Base-ball mask.



No. 628,724. Paiented July ll, I899.

' v B. T. ROGERS.

BASE BALL MASK.

, (Application filed Jan. 11, 1899.) (No Model.)

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BURT T. ROGERS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BASE-BALL MASK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,724, dated July 11,1899. Application filed January 11, 1899. Serial No. 701,791I (lilomodel.)

1'0 all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BURT T. ROGERS, of Springfield, in the county ofHampden' and State of Massachusetts, have in vented certain new anduseful Improvements in Base-Ball Masks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to base-ball masks, and more particularly to thecushioning parts thereof, which bear against the wearers face andprotect it from direct contact with the metal frame.

Among other things the invention has for its object to provide improvedadjustable side cushions for the mask, so constructed as to render themask better fitting and more comfortable to the wearer and alsoconstructed and arranged to increase the protection afforded bydistributing more evenly the force of blows and to allow the mask to bemore easily and quickly thrown off the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting forthe forehead and chin bands.

Base-ball masks as heretofore constructed have been cushioned at thesides with stuffed pads attached rigidly to the side bars or wires ofthe frame. This construction is compara tively stiff and unyielding andis non-adjustable. Its defects are overcome in a simple manner by meansof my invention, an embodiment of which I shall now proceed to describein detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a base-ballmask constructed in accordance with my invention and in position on awearer. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the mask. Fig. 3represents a horizontal section thereof. Fig. 4 represents a partialrear elevation showing a modification. Fig. 5 represents a section onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, a a designate the bars or wires of themask-frame or main body. c and c designate the elastic headstraps, whichare attached to the frame and extend over and in back of the wearershead to hold the mask in place.

I) and c designate, respectively, the forehead and chin bands, attachedby means of loops or straps Z) c to the side barsof the frame near thetop and bottom of the latter and subserving their usual functions.

In place of the usual stuffed pads at the sides of the frame a a Iemploy the Vertical bands d [1, attached at their lower ends toconvenient bars on the said frame by means of the looped straps d d andat their upper ends by means of looped straps d (1 whose ends areperforated with holes d d and pass through buckles d (Z The side edgesof the bands cl d arealso attached to the frame by means of loopedstraps d d b. To secure the attaching-loops to the bands, the parts maybe riveted together, as shown, or other suitable attaching means may beemployed.

\Vhen the wearer places the mask on his head, the bands d cl embrace thesides of his face and conform perfectly to the contour thereof. Theybear with the requisite firmness against the face and in conjunctionwith the forehead and chin bands (I 0 hold the frame a a, in place andprevent the face from going too far into the mask. At the same time,being supported away from the frame, they are perfectly yielding and arefree from hard protrusions, such as the stuffed pads heretofore employedfrequently present. By adjusting the upper attaching-straps (Z havingthe buckles d, the tension of the bands (I may be regulated and theirspread thereby varied to accommodate the mask to heads of differentsizes and shapes. The disposition and construction of the said sidebands also permit the mask to be more easily and quickly thrown off,because when the lower end of the mask is tilted outwardly the wearersforehead sinks in between. the side bands and spreads them apart,rendering the removal .of the mask more easy than when unyielding asattached in the usual manner to the side bars of the frame a a. Asillustrated, however, in the modification shown in Fig. 4, I may supportthe chin-band c by attaching its ends to the side bands (1 cl, as shown,rivets ff or other means being employed to effect the connection. Thiscauses the chin-band to give or yield more freely than when it isattached to the rigid frame-bars.

I claim- 1. In a base-ball mask, a frame, and vertically-disposedflexible side bands attached to and supported away from said frame, saidbands being under tension and adapted to yieldingly embrace the sides ofthe Wearers face.

2. In a base-ball mask, a frame, side cushioning members attachedthereto at their ends and under tension, and means for adjusting saidmembers inwardly and outwardly to vary the space between them.

3. In a base-ball mask, a frame, verticallydisposed side bands attachedthereto at their upper and lower ends, and means for adj usting thelongitudinal tension on said bands,- to Vary their spread.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of twowitnesses.

BURT T. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

SAML. M. GRIFFIN, HENRY L. PHELPS.

